Charles Carr Ridley (G 44-47).

A tribute by his daughter Sandra Brooks:

“My dad, Carr, passed away on 3 February 2014, just after my mum, Helen, to whom he was married for 56 years. He is survived by two daughters, one son and seven grandchildren.

Carr was born at High Barns Farm in Wall, near Hexham in 1931. He moved to Stocksfield with his mother and it was there he met his lifelong friend, Peter Strong. In 1944, he was sent to St Bees, as was Peter Strong in 1946. Carr talked often and fondly of his days there, the strict regime but the tremendous freedom. The motto of the boys seemed to be 'if and when you break the rules, you had better not get caught!' But caught Carr was, when he let off a firecracker while waiting for the train back home for the holidays. His housemaster witnessed this misdemeanour and Carr remembered the beating that followed to the end of his days. His friend, Michael Hanna, sprung to his defence and also received a beating.

Carr was a very capable student except in Latin, his Achilles heel. He often recounted the story of his disinterest and lack of ability in the subject and the letter he wrote to his mother during his Latin exam. He earned a fail and his mother was not amused. But Carr also remembered the fun and camaraderie and the happy times of his school days.

He did not want to follow his father into farming so at 17, he went into the merchant navy, where after some years, he earned his Master's ticket. He was introduced to Helen by a friend in Whitley Bay and they were soon engaged. They married in 1957 in Heaton, Newcastle and had three children. While Carr much enjoyed life at sea, with a young family to raise, he made the momentous and courageous decision to leave the navy and begin a new career.  He became a sales representative, living in the north east in Gosforth and Ponteland and travelling all over Scotland and England to further his ambitions.

In 1973, the family moved to Southport, Merseyside. By 1977, the entrepreneur in him had come to the fore and he started his own company with a friend, John Thorpe. Carr brought all his selling skills to bear and with John's technical expertise, Thorid became a highly successful powder coating company.  Sadly, the aluminium extrusion market declined and after a number of very good years, Thorid was sold leaving Carr free to pursue other ventures.

With all the children gone from home, he and Helen moved to Kirkmichael in Perthshire where he continued his entrepreneurial ways, selling snowblowers for several years, and enjoying semi-retirement in the glen. He played a lot of golf and bridge, the latter more successfully than the former.

Seven grandchildren later, Carr and Helen moved to Little Milton in Oxfordshire to be near the family and where they lived very happily until Helen died in 2013. They loved village life and he was an active member of the 'Chamber of Commerce', a club for like-minded males, who met weekly for beer and chat. He was a popular member of the community and supported the village in many ways.

As I review my dad's life, I am struck by the friends he made and kept along the way, by the risks he took and by his success in business. He was a sociable man, honest and open, determined and the epitome of a good salesman in the 60s and 70s. He was never happier than with family and friends, recounting stories from school and navy days. Peter Strong remained his longest (and shortest!) friend and I know Peter misses the phone calls with dad and discussing the ups and downs of Newcastle United. Sadly, dad didn't see Newcastle win anything (1969 is a long time ago) but his lifelong passion for the club and the north east remained strong.

My father only lived eight months after Helen died. The poor health of his latter years caught up with him at the start of this year. He and Helen are much missed by family and friends.”

 

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